How can you identify primary alcohol?

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How can you identify primary alcohol?

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Answer 1 · 2016-04-07T05:44:47

By the presence of the $CH_2OH$ group.

Explanation:

The alcoholic derivative of a primary methyl group is a so-called primary alcohol. Ethyl alcohol, $H_3C-CH_2OH$ is certainly a primary alcohol. So if you see 2 hydrogens on the alcoholic ipso carbon, you know you have a primary alcohol. Other examples include $1-"propanol"$ and $1-"butanol"$

On the other hand, if there is only the one hydrogen on the ipso carbon, then you have a secondary alcohol: isopropyl alcohol $(H_3C)_2CHOH$ is the examplar.

No prizes for guessing that for the tertiary alcohol, the ipso carbon has no hydrogens. Tertiary butanol, $(H_3C)_3C-OH$ is an example.

Note that methyl alcohol, $H_3COH$ is to all intents and purposes a primary alcohol. Some texts place methyl alcohols, and methyl derivatives, in a special class (which they are because the ipso carbon bears 3 hydrogens!) because they are more reactive than even ethyl alcohol.

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How can you identify primary alcohol?

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